AFTER a day in the constituency office working on correspondence on Tuesday, I headed up to London to open the Stock Exchange for the fifth time - this time in the company of Brazilian representatives.

The real purpose of the visit was to join the Chancellor for talks with a Brazilian delegation about a whole range of economic opportunities – including financial services which sit within my remit as City Minister.

This is a crucial time as the UK seeks to maximise our global reach – exactly as the Chancellor set out in his Mansion House speech.

On leaving the EU, the UK will have the opportunity to make free trade agreements with countries across the world.

An independent trade policy gives us the opportunity to make deals better suited to the UK and to make quicker progress with new partners and in growing markets.

The UK is determined to deepen trade and investment relations with the wider world.

While we cannot agree new trade deals until after we have left the EU, we are able to prepare the ground.

To that end, discussions are taking place with a number of countries, including existing EU trade partners.

I also took the chance while in London to spend some time with a local work experience student.

My part-time parliamentary researcher, Lizzie, does a great job of looking after students in Westminster and trying to give them an authentic insight into the life of an MP.

I will be back in Salisbury on Friday to catch up with casework and make some calls around some particularly difficult ongoing cases before visiting Clouds House to hear about the wonderful work they do to help people recovering from addiction.

I know from previous advice surgeries and visits the debt of gratitude owed to them by many local people.

I am also heading to Wilton to catch up with a community leader before spending some time with a local church head.